Overfeeding a mix fed baby

[Freyathecatt]

Hello

My son is 13 weeks old and due to serious issues with my milk supply we are mix feeding him.

A bit of background: he was born at 9lbs but then lost over 10% (75th centile down to 9th) due to my lack of milk so we had to start topping him up. In spite of all my attempts to sort my milk out (fenugreek, tongue tie resolution, domperidone) i just don't produce enough.

However this mix feeding is now causing problems because he is stacking on the weight (currently 15.6lbs) and the HV says he is being overfed - he's jumped back up 2 centiles in the past month. He is a chunk and a very hungry baby. On a daily basis our feeding regime means that at every feed he has both barrels of boob and then between 120-180 ml about 7 times a day. Between 27/6 and 1/7 he has seemingly put on almost a kilo although he was weighed on different machines.

I accept that we have to establish a proper routine because he is majority ff, but i don't know what to do about the quantity of formula to give him. I have no idea how much breastmilk he's getting (the most i was ever able to express was an ounce per boob) and am only giving him as much formula as he will take! HV has said give him one boob per feed and not more than 5 feeds of 180ml formula per day.

Ugh i just dont know what to do. I really dont want to give up bf him, but that seems to be the wildcard variable. Any advice from experienced mums would be greatly appreciated.

Someone with more experience of mixed feeding will be along soon but have to say the advice of 'only 1 boob' seems wrong to me (how can they possibly know how many oz were in that 1 boob!?).

If you were to do a 3 hrly feeding routine for example and BF at 7am and 7pm then I would feed until baby is satisfied ie. offering as many sides as necessary. No topping up. Then offer formula at the other feeds with the correct amount.

I should do a disclaimer though that I don't understand on demand mixed feeding in this situation and can only see how it would work in a routine iyswim.

GL :)

Sorry just to add you know expressing is no indication of supply but also there is a big growth spurt at this time so combined with the initial loss, maybe he's following his natural centile now?

Hmmmm

Have you had him checked for tongue tie? Because its highly unlikely that you didn't have enough milk - more likely that tongue tie meant he couldn't get the milk out....

Your story if so similar to my DD1 (& I had to start mix feeding DD2 who.is 5 weeks due to history repeating :-( )

DD1 was born on 50th centile, dropped to 2nd by only weighing 8lb at 6 weeks then climbed to the 98th. I stopped mix feeding her at 15 weeks but that was because I was over it. I'd stopped bf when out when I introduced formula as she took over an hour to bf.

But she was still having a feed more than the box recommended (I think 6 rather than 5) & HV * i worried about now too much weight. I switched her to the hungry baby formula and this allowed me to drop that extra feed. I believe it is same calorie content but different protein proportions and keeps them fuller for longer.

But I would continue to bf for as long as you are happy to do so. Incidentally DD1 now 2.8 is still on 91st centile for weight & height, wears 3-4 clothes & eats brilliantly. Hope that helps.

Splat have you had your baby checked for tongue tie?

If he'd lost lots of weight at first, then maybe he's just catching back up? What centile is he on now?

An exclusively formula fed baby his size would probably need about 1000ml of formula a day - sounds like he is getting about that? I'd say if he's getting so much of his intake from formula then he probably isn't taking much breastmilk at all.

It depends what you want to do really - do you want to increase the amount of breastfeeding, or go exclusively to formula?

Does he down the bottles very quickly? That can be an issue with overfeeding, as they fill up before they know they are full. Trying a slower teat and slowing down the feed with lots of breaks/pauses can give him a better chance to regulate his appetite. Maybe offer a smaller bottle of formula, and if he still wants more afterwards put him back to the breast?

Hello all

Thanks so much for the responses, v helpful.

NoWayPedro, i like that plan, i might give that a go with slight tweaks - his bath time is 8.30 so he needs a bedtime feed. I really like the bfing at 7 and 7, gives my boobs a chance to accumulate a store of milk, but i do wonder what impact feeding just twice a day will have on my already meagre milk supply. I suppose i have to be pragmatic and accept what happens as long as my son gets what is best for him.

CreatureRetorts he has had his tongue tie snipped privately, NHS appointment was 5 weeks from the date of the letter, farcical.

maj00, i definitely want to continue bfing and he's currently on the 75th centile. He's only using newborn/1 month plus teats and he gobbles down the milk. He'll drink the 125ml in a small bottle then holler for more. Piglet.

If you want to continue breastfeeding I would definitely offer the breast again if he wants more rather than increasing the amount of formula.

Feeding less frequently will further reduce your milk supply - the more often he is on the breast the better.

creatureretorts - I have been through everything & I mean everything when I was desperate to ebf DD1. Went to bf clinic 4 times in first 2 weeks with DD2 to try to get it right but her weight loss was an issue. I spent so much time and emotion killing myself over it first time round this time I refuse to do that. DD2 is taking breast well and 2-3 x 3 oz top ups of formula. We're both happy & settled & that is far more important to me than ebf.

No she's not tongue tied. I know everyone on this page thinks it's always the answer but it's not (&wasn't for DD1 either)

Actually no we don't - just checking. I've been through it myself but people said it was one thing and another yet it was that in the end!